Middletown Council Approves Funding For Dog Park And Parking Repairs

MIDDLETOWN — The common council at its Nov. 4 meeting approved funding to repair the Court Street parking structure and committed to building a dog park inside Veterans Memorial Park.

The council approved the use of $70,000 in Local Capital Improvement Program grant funding to build a fence and other features for a dog park in the western portion of Veterans Memorial Park.

A dog park is just one of several features planned in a major overhaul of the park, including the Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial, a new facility for the Greater Middletown Military Museum, upgraded picnic areas, public pool renovations, more parking and a new playground.

The Veterans Memorial Park Renovation Committee's conceptual plan recommending those features has been approved. The plan would put the dog park in the portion of the park closest to Old Mill Road.

Councilman Todd Berch has proposed a dog park twice, and said residents have consistently asked for the project to be a high priority for the city.

The vote taken Monday night will reserve and use the $70,000 next year unless a building committee appointed to implement the committee's report decides otherwise.

Council members Linda Salafia, Deborah Kleckowski and Ronald Klattenberg voted against the plan. Salafia said the committee's report does not include a total cost estimate for the dog park feature as it does for other items, and said the report also does not indicate the dog park is the first priority for upgrades to the park.

Council Democratic Majority Leader Thomas Serra said he supports the dog park plan, but said the building committee should have the final say on when and how to fund it in relation to other Veterans Memorial Park features.

In other business Nov. 4, the council approved a $125,000 appropriation to make repairs to the "Parking Arcade" behind the Superior Court. Parking Director Geen Thazhampallath said water damage is causing concrete erosion, where pieces of concrete and dripping water are damaging cars parked on the lower level.

Council members in recent months have called for the prompt closure and demolition of the structure as insurance claims mount. The repairs are intended to remove a safety risk and give the city time to plan for a new garage using nearly $7 million in federal funding that could be used toward the project's costs.

Council members Joseph Bibisi and Todd Berch voted against the appropriation.